Beyoncé’s 2016 album named after the lemonade-making metaphor is Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, alongside a one-hour film broadcast on HBO. The album combines music with poetry and visual storytelling, moving through themes that include betrayal, grief, anger, healing, family, and cultural identity.
Its title refers to a passage associated with Jay-Z’s grandmother, Hattie White, who speaks about making lemonade from life’s difficult experiences. This idea gives the album a framework of endurance and transformation rather than treating its songs as an unrelated collection.
The project includes “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” and “Freedom.” It received widespread critical acclaim and earned nine Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. Lemonade is distinct from Renaissance, Beyoncé’s 2022 album and the first installment of a later trilogy.